Eastern Milksnake

Scientific Name: Lampropeltis Triangulum Triangulum

A secretive burrower, the Eastern Milksnake spends considerable periods beneath rocks, underground and underneath boards, stumps, and logs. They are known to live as long as twenty one and a half years old. With more than a slight resemblance to the Copperhead Snake, humans tend to kill this species of milksnake as they mistake it for the former. A relatively slender snake, the basic coloration runs from tan to grey. The color scheme is disrupted by irregular, dark, and large spots, lined up in longitudinal rows, numbering from three to five. The spots are brown to reddish brown, with black borders. The spots on the center of its back are much bigger in size, as compared to those on the sides. In adulthood, this snake grows to lengths measuring 61-90 centimeters, or 24-36 inches. The belly features white and black checkerboard motifs, but the juvenile to the adult shows a more vivid red blotches.

Eastern Milksnakes Are Beautiful Creatures

Facts About Eastern Milksnakes

Geographic Location

The range of the Eastern milk snake is the Northeastern side of the United States, from the Appalachians northwards to the state of Maine, and in a westerly direction to areas of Iowa and Minnesota. Moreover, it is located in scattered areas in the coastal plain and the Piedmont. Geographic variability is exhibited by this snake, in terms of scale patterns, amount of blotches, and body ring amounts.

Habitat

Locally, this species is located in areas like river bottoms, rocky hillsides, meadows, woodlands, farms, fields, and even in some cities. Additionally, it may be found in deciduous hardwoods, grassy balds, ledges, and around disused farmhouses and barns.

Behavior

Reproduction

Females of this species lay about four to twelve eggs, mostly under logs, beneath rocks, and in rotting wood. These eggs hatch two to two and a half months later.

Captivity

The main meals for the Eastern Milk Snake are mice, lizards, and other smaller snakes. Small frogs, insects, and earthworms round off their typical diet.